life update + current wishlist // october

Hey pretty people! So, I know its been awhile since I've updated or posted anything, and a lot has happened in the meantime... I've up and moved to London, UK for grad school! London has been my favorite city ever since I first visited back in 2013. I've lived here before for an internship I had at an art gallery in summer 2014, and I finally made the decision to get a masters in Arts Management & Curating - so I'll be here until at least next September getting my degree! I'll be sure to start blogging more about my life in London, tips and tricks for moving to a new country, and anything else that I can think up. While I work on some content for upcoming posts, I thought I'd post my current wishlist for the coming fall months since it has been awhile (oooh, cooler weather.. my fave). Check out my top five wishlist picks for Fall below.

october // wishlist by iwearblack featuring Josie Maran

jeffree star highlighter in shade 'king tut'
public desire crushed velvet 'lia' boots in grey
rebecca minkoff mini mab in black
zara bomber jacket
and of course, i can't forget that i need to restock my fave josie maran whipped body butter

covergirl clean matte bb cream // seventeen social club

Summer is finally here, and along with cute sunglasses, swimsuits and sunscreen, unfortunately for me also comes oily skin! I've always had very oily skin, so applying sunscreens in the summer and keeping those pesky breakouts away can be a challenge for me! Luckily, Seventeen sent Covergirl's latest genius product my way -- the Clean Matter bb cream for oily skin. I have to say that I am absolutely loving what this stuff has done for my complexion so far! Instead of other bb creams that can clog your pores, Covergirl's newest matte addition to their collection doesn't invade your pores -- it actually keeps your skin shine-free all day long. It's oil free and lasts all day, even through the summer heat!

I'll definitely be sticking this bb cream in my beach bag, it's my new summer must-have when it comes to hiding existing blemishes or just evening out my skin tone. I have fairer skin but I opted for the medium shade because I like to add a little color to my complexion in the summer months, and it gave me that perfect sunkissed-color that I've been looking for. Apply a little bit of spf on top and you're good to go.

I love this bb cream so much that I've been applying it on the daily. In case you're wondering what it looks like on, here's a no-filter photo of my wearing the bb cream -- look how natural and glowy it makes your skin! So matte & pretty, and with great color. I even have sensitive skin and this stuff is doing wonders. I'm in love!

Until next time - xoxo, xtina

coachella + pastel hair //

coachella: weekend one by iwearblack on Polyvore

I have to admit, like everyone else this past weekend, I found myself wishing that I was heading to the palm trees of California for Coachella. And not only for the music -- but the style has been absolutely amazing! I love the bohemian look that comes with a lot of outdoor summer music festivals, and Coachella is the perfect place to turn for summer style inspiration. There's been so many awesome looks already just from this past weekend, it was hard to choose only a few of my favorites. When it comes to Coachella, for me its all about the billowy white sleeves, off-the-shoulder tops, floppy hats and body jewelry.

Another aspect of festival season that I've become obsessed with is pastel colored hair. With festival season just beginning, what better time to have some fun with hair dye? Luckily, Feria Pastels has you covered if you're headed over to Coachella, Bonaroo, or another music festival this summer -- or if you just want to have some fun with your hair color. Take a cue from a few style setters who've attended Coachella with their own pastel locks:

Too cool, right? Feria Smokey Pastels, sent my way courtesy of the amazing people over at Seventeen, has a lavender shade that is the perfect blend of purple and pink. If my hair were only a few shades lighter, I'd probably do a few strands of this awesome lavender color just for fun.

If pastels aren't your thing or you just don't want to take the plunge, why not incorporate some Coachella style into your wardrobe instead? Below I've picked a few easy pieces that you can wear on the daily, while still feeling that Coachella vibe in your real life. Ahhh, if only we were there.

coachella style by iwearblack featuring chain pendants

I'll be back next weekend to give my favorite outfits from Weekend Two!

xoxo,
xtina

SK-II voxbox // review

Let me start off this post by saying if you haven't heard of Influenster yet, it's time that you learn about it! Influenster is this ahhh-mazing website that sends you boxes of products to review based on your interests and how active you are with your social media platforms. If you can show them that you have a decent following on your social media platforms and that you're relatively active on them, then they will send you products tailored to you, completely complimentary!

For my first voxbox I received a few items such as a candy bar, an NYC lip stain, tea, and some makeup remover wipes. Now, that was a pretty nice box for being complimentary -- but this time, however, the box I received was full of SK-II skincare! This high-end Japanese skincare line is absolutely amazing and I was so beyond thrilled to receive some of their products for testing purposes!

SK-II facial treatment essence water & facial treatment mask // the main ingredient that makes this essence water and mask so special is "pitera", an ingredient that I had never heard of before receiving this brand. apparently, pitera is known as "the holy grail" in the East for its skin-renewing abilities. my only complaint about both of these products are some of the other ingredients they contain. if I'm paying 99$ for a bottle of facial essence, I don't want there to be other bad ingredients in there such as parabens! I would encourage SK-II to make this product without those ingredients, because then I really would consider both of these products to be holy grail-level items. either way, I still really enjoyed using both SK-II products! I've only been using them both for about a week now but I'm looking forward to seeing how they make my skin feel and look over the course of the next few weeks. so far, they've both made my skin feel really nice and refreshed. if you're looking for a new skincare brand to try out, consider checking out these items from SK-II.

current wishlist // april

april wishlist // by iwearblack featuring white shoes

here are my current wanted items for April, also known as the perfect month to transition your winter style into spring style! This month I'm loving pastel blues, whites, nudes, and grey tones.

calvin klein x urban outfitters cropped hoodie
missguided lace up heels
a pair of round glasses to replace my current frames
smith & cult nail laquer in stockholm syndrome
baby blue h&m off the shoulder top

birchbox // march 2016 unboxing

If you subscribe to Birchbox like I do, then you know there's nothing better than when you receive yours in the mail! It's almost like getting a Christmas present every month, and definitely the perfect way to treat yo self. This month, Birchbox's theme was "Ladies First" to celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month. And how cute was this month's box design?!
From just the looks of it, I'm pretty happy with my box this month -- this just might be one of my favorite boxes I've ever gotten.. but then again, I've found myself saying that a lot about my Birchboxes lately. Here's a lowdown on every product I received:

smashbox photo finish primer oil // the sample size is good enough, and although I'm a little hesitant to use this every day as I already have oily skin, I was still excited to try it because I love Smashbox products. After applying some to my forehead, it really felt nice on my skin and underneath my makeup.

theBalm cosmetics stainiac lip stain // this was probably the sample I was least excited about, just because I don't often wear a red lip and I'm not crazy about lip stains. however, the color is rich and it applies easily -- I'll use this on occasion, and it's perfect to slip into your purse for a night of going out.

wilma schumann collagen eye pads // I was really thrilled to try these out at first, because lately I've been all about protecting my skin and doing everything I can to keep it healthy. While these eye pads did feel really nice beneath my eyes, I don't like the idea of putting a product on that delicate skin that contains parabens! That part kind of rules out the good ingredients in this product.

number 4 l'eau de mare hydrating conditioner and shampoo // I have to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of shampoo -- and I especially try to stay away from drugstore shampoos that contain sulfates. luckily, neither of these Number 4 shampoo and conditioner samples contain that pesky ingredient! I'm excited to try these out and see if I like the texture that they give my hair.

living proof perfect hair day fresh cut // I'm a huge fan of Living Proof products, and I already own one of their hair serums -- so I'm really pumped to try out this split end mender! Having long hair at the moment, I get lots of split ends, so hopefully this will help out a bit with those.

Overall, I'd rate this month's Birchbox an 8 out of 10! If anyone reading this wants to try out Birchbox for themselves, click on my special members link to join Birchbox and you'll get a free eyeshadow stick with the code "EYEKOGIFT".

Click here to join Birchbox!

Until next time, xtina

seventeen social club // spring break box

Recently, I received a very exciting invitation --- I was chosen by Seventeen Magazine to receive boxes of the latest trends to try out! As a member of the Seventeen Social Club, I work alongside the folks over at Seventeen Magazine to bring you reviews of cool products. For my first Seventeen Social Club post, I recently received the spring break box in the mail. Inside the box were two books -- just in time for spring break and some much-needed R&R on a beach somewhere! The books included were:

KILL THE BOY BAND by Goldy Madalvsky// This one looks like it will be a deliciously dark-humored read, which is right up my alley. Madalvsky's novel is about four superfan friends and their obsession with their favorite boyband. I'll be picking up this one to read first, as it seems like it will be a good dark laugh.

TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE by Jenny Han // This novel seems to be a bit on the softer side than Madalvsky's, and tells a love tale through a series of love letters. I'll be reading this one for when I'm in the mood for a good sweet romance novel (which, surprisingly, is often the type of book that I pick up!).

I have to admit, I love to read but I don't get to do it as often as I'd like to, especially lately. This is one of the reasons that I was very happy to have received these books in my mailbox! I look forward to delving deeper into them both, and as a none-too-subtle boyband fan myself, Kill the Boy Band in particular looks like it will be right up my alley. Have you read either of these titles? Check 'em out if you've got some time during your spring break, and let me know what you think of both!

xoxo, xtina

beauty // my current obsessions

I like to try a lot of different makeup products and brands.. and when I say a lot, I really mean a lot! I'm always testing out new products that I've heard about. Lately, I've tried a few great ones and become pretty obsessed with some of them! Here are my current top 5 products that I've recently added to my collection and exactly why I love each of them so much.

1) josie maran whipped argan oil in creamy vanilla // this stuff is like liquid gold.. for your skin (and I'm not kidding)! The first time I tried this, I absolutely fell in love. Not only does it smell divine, but it's free of harsh chemicals that can harm your skin. A lot of people don't know that many skin-care products, including body lotion, can contain ingredients such as parabens or butylene glycol that are actually very harmful to put on your body. Luckily, Josie Maran is committed to keeping her ingredients all-natural, which is a great plus! This whipped argan oil is a must-have for your skin, especially in the dry winter months. the benefits of Argan Oil also prevent wrinkles and keep skin moisturized and firm, which I especially love for areas like my neck and collarbone area/chest. I'm so in love with it that I use it nearly every day!

2) juice beauty concealer // I never used to care about the ingredients in makeup products, or rather, I never used to notice them. but as I mentioned above, the fact is that there are a lot of ingredients in drug-store makeup brands and even more "sophisticated" brands that are very bad for your skin. however, you can be guilt-free with this Juice Beauty concealer, because it's also composed of entirely natural ingredients! the entire Juice Beauty brand is committed to all-natural products. I love to use this concealer on the dark circles beneath my eyes, because the skin there is very delicate and I don't like putting makeup there that contains harsh chemicals that could cause pre-mature aging.

3) jouer anti-blemish matte primer // wow, this primer is the bomb! This was the first product I'd ever tried from Jouer, and I have to say that I'll be purchasing more. With skin-loving ingredients like aloe, Vitamin E, Ginseng and Gingko Biloba extract (apparently this ingredient protects your skin from free radicals, and I've definitely noticed it giving my skin a pretty glow), this matte primer doesn't only prevent blemishes -- it's also a great treat for your skin and keeps your foundation on all day.

4) arrow beauty ph adjusting chapstick // I got this as a sample in last month's Birchbox, and I immediately fell in love! Who knew that a chapstick exists that changes color on your lips according to your personal pH balance?! it's pretty amazing, I must say. according to the makeup brand, this stuff changes to the most flattering color for you -- mine turns out to be a pretty pink shade. It moisturizes and gives you a pretty color at the same time, and I can't get enough of it.

5) smashbox contour palette // for the longest time I wanted to try contouring but never knew where to begin -- luckily, this contour palette from Smashbox makes it super easy! the palette comes with a guide for your personal face shape and where exactly you need to contour to look your best, and it even includes a handy contour brush. I usually sweep the first shade down the sides of my nose, sides of my forehead, and in the hallows of my cheek; then I sweep on some bronzer on my cheeks and down to my neck a bit. finally, I highlight with the final light shade on my chin, down the center of my nose, beneath my eyes, and on the middle of my forehead. Voilà, contour made easy!

current wishlist // february

My wishlist always seems to be getting longer, only because I always find things online that I fall absolutely in love with! Here are the items I'm currently dreaming of having for myself for the month of February.

feb. wishlist by iwearblack featuring a dark circle eye treatment

public desire suede ankle boots // ysl dupes, anyone?! these look very similar to the coveted ysl black ankle boots, at about a fraction of the price! I've been loving suede boots lately, and this pair looks perfect for a great price.

missguided pj set // what's not to love about a silky, matching pj set? I never used to care about pjs, but now I can't get enough of adorable sets like this one. the long sleeves combined with the shorts make it a perfect set to transition from winter to spring!

balance me wonder eye cream // this stuff is great to moisturize that delicate area around the eyes, especially if you're in your early twenties like me and just starting to think about preventing those pesky wrinkles! I got a sample of this stuff in a birchbox once and fell in love.

puma x rihanna creeper // I can't help but to get a 90s punk vibe from Rihanna's new collab with puma, and I have to say that I'm loving it. these creepers are the perfect blend of trendy modern-day and punk edge.

BLANKNYC blue suede jacket // I love a classic moto jacket, and this spin on it is very cool. taking a classic style and mixing it up with a different color or fabric always seems to catch my eye, and BLANKNYC did a perfect job of doing so with this jacket!

styling // the alexander mcqueen scarf

If there's one item that can really enhance an outfit and give it that extra edge that you've been craving, look no further than the Alexander McQueen skull-print scarves. For a while now, stylists and celebrities alike have been spotted sporting McQueen's signature skull scarf in their street style attire. After months of lusting after one myself, I finally received one as a gift about a year ago! And I have to say, whenever I wanna feel like a badass, I just throw on my McQueen and I'm good to go. Here are some ways that I would style the McQueen skull scarf:

Untitled #208 by iwearblack featuring Michael Kors

Untitled #205 by iwearblack featuring a gray shirt

Untitled #219 by iwearblack featuring black glasses

Untitled #207 by iwearblack featuring golf skirts

Until next time,

xo, xtina

welcome to my new blog // first post

Cheers to my first post! I've been wanting to create a lifestyle blog for awhile -- I've had numerous specific blogs on places such as tumblr, but never a general lifestyle one for myself. So here it is: Lifestyle by Christina. Until I come up with a more creative name, of course. ;) Here, I'll be posting product reviews, making style posts, talking about some of my favorite fashion/beauty/etc. items, and much more. As a part of Seventeen Magazine's social club, I'll also be reviewing the products that they send to me here. I've done quite a bit of traveling, so I look forward to sharing my travel experience with all of you.
Just to tell you a little bit about me, I'm a recent college graduate and I've had numerous jobs in the art, fashion, and creative world. I'm currently applying to graduate schools (and hoping to go abroad!) but in the meantime, you can find me here. If you're reading this, thanks so much for checking out my blog, and I look forward to sharing posts with you!

xo, xtina